A/N: Hope you are enjoying this story!
Snape had returned home after helping Hermione. It had been a close call. Lupin had trusted him. The werewolf whom he'd sworn to destroy had trusted him over some of the best magical healers. He didn't know how he felt about it. He took a bath to rid himself of the blood and then burned the robes he had been wearing. As he sat there watching the fire, his thoughts drifted back to his time with Lilly.
Flashback
"Sev! Hey, where are you?" Lilly asked as she sat down next to him near the back lake into which he seemed to be staring pensively
"Why do you think muggles exist?" He had asked
"What? What kind of a question is that?"
"A simple one… Why isn't every human being on this earth magical?"
"That would be nice I suppose, Petunia wouldn't hate me so much then…"
"Your sister has been miserable since the day I met her, she'd have been the same even if she was a witch…"
"We'll never know will we?"
"Okay, let's say Petunia was a witch, how do you think it would have been any different? Was she better than you at school?"
"You know, I don't remember… but I remember her calling me a freak… and I remember how much it hurt… I don't know why muggles exist or why some of us are magical and others aren't, but I wish we'd all just be a little bit kinder to each other… Sometimes words can hurt worse than spells…."
End Flashback
Snape sighed. It had taken him a while but he finally understood Lilly. He would try not to avoid Lupin as much anymore. Fenrir however, that creature was where he drew the line. He was pulled out of his thoughts with a pop as Kreacher appeared in front of him "You is the wizard Mr. Snape?"
"Who's asking?" Snape said looking down at the elf
"I is Kreacher sir, elf to the most noble and ancient house of the Blacks… Narcissa Malfoy is being sending me to you, to tells Kreacher how to destroy this…" He held out the locket and Snape stopped breathing for a minute.
"Where did you find this?" Snape asked reaching for it as Kreacher pulled it back and hugged it to his chest
"It was given to Kreacher by Master Regulus… He is asking me to destroy it… Kreacher has to do it himself…"
"Very well, Kreacher do you know Hogwarts castle?" Kreacher nodded "Good… we'll have to go there to destroy it…." Kreacher thought about it for a minute and then gave a nod.
The floo roared to life and the most unlikely pair arrived in Snape's private office.
—
Dumbledore had tried using a drop of blood that he had taken, but it had gotten him nowhere. The seal hadn't budged. So it was not blood magic after all, only familial magic. As he poured through several mundane memories of Morfin gaunt, he kept coming up on the one where he confessed to murder. There were some more lewd memories and he had never thought to watch them before, but now that Ms. Granger was in play, he needed to know all the women Morfin Gaunt had 'been with'. He was going through one memory after the next, taking notes of the names.
That was how Minerva found him in the pensive "Dumbledore! What on earth?"
As if he were child caught with his hand in the candy jar, he pulled himself out "Minerva! I didn't hear you come in… I was just… researching…"
"Oh is that what the kids are calling it these days?" She mumbled
"What was that?" Dumbledore asked leaning in
"Nothing, I have something to ask you?" Dumbledore just looked at her curiously asking her to go on "When Tom Riddle came to ask for the DADA Position and you refused… did he really curse the post?"
"No, I don't think so, after all Quirinus was with us for quite some time… I didn't think of you as someone to give into absurd rumours Minerva… Why? did you have a recommendation for the position?"
"Not really… I was just wondering, a lot of absurd things seem to be becoming real of-late…" She said taking a seat "This office was not done then was it?" She smiled reminiscing
"No… it wasn't… In fact all our offices were on the 7th floor…" Dumbledore said smiling a little himself
"Yes… Quite a lot has changed…"
Dumbledore nodded and looked out the window and said "You've changed quite a bit too Minerva…"
"Have I?"
"Haven't we all?"
Minerva sighed and got up "I suppose we have… so who is this years DADA professor?"
"Severus?"
"Aren't two subjects going to be a bit much to handle? Especially with the other…. Engagements…. He has…"
"Oh no, he will be doing only DADA, Slughorn is returning for Potions and has kindly accepted to become head of Slytherin house again… I suppose that should give Snape plenty of time off…"
"How on earth did you manage that?"
"I just lured the fly with a little honey…"
—
They had a Week and a half to board the Hogwarts Express. Draco had been writing everyday since his confession. Hermione had alternated between sobbing and giggling for a whole 10 mins before she had written back
I love you too Draco Malfoy
He avoided all her questions about the Mark and his health and only spoke to her about books giving her recommendations to peruse from the Black library that he had seen a couple of times in his childhood. She had avoided all questions about her health and her parents and discussed her reading and antics that the boys and Sirius would get up to for fun. When the results arrived they had discussed on length about each others grades calling the teachers unfair and what not despite the both of them getting O's in everything except Hermione's single E in DADA.
They had decided that they would meet in secret somewhere in Diagon Alley when they went to get their supplies, so when the day arrived Hermione was all but bouncing on her toes. Once they arrived in Flourish and Blotts by floo and three of them had picked up their books and the boys had wanted to go to the quidditch store while Hermione needed to go pick up potions supplies and she figured she would get Crookshanks some new toys as well. While Kingsley insisted they all stick together, Bill had said that he and Fleur would be happy to be Hermione's escort and broke away from the gang smoothly.
"Congratulations on the engagement you guys…" Hermione said smiling
"Merci 'ermione… You seem to be among the select few who approve…" Fleur said it in an offhand way but you could tell she was hurt with Molly's treatment of her. It had been evident in the dinner they'd had at the burrow to announce said engagement just a couple of days ago.
"It's just nice you know… To see something nice like a wedding happening… with all that's going on…" She said
"Yes well his mama thinks it's cause we are worried about dying…" Fleur said sulkily Bill smiled and put and arm around his wife's waist pulling her close and said "Let her… Besides that's exactly what she and dad did during the last war…" he finished with a kiss to her temple
Hermione smiled at the affection between them "Not that it matters, but I think you two would be great together…"
"Thank you Hermione… and of course it matters… You're like a sister to me…" Bill said "So… what's going on with you and Draco Malfoy?" He asked
"Huh?" Hermione stumbled on her shoes and her words "what? Who?"
"He came out of Knockturn 5 minutes ago alone and has been following us at a distance ever since… He's not once reached for his wand once, so I know this isn't something to do with his father's pals…" Bill said
"Fleur's a Veela, a lot of men are following us…" Hermione said blushing slightly
"I've never seen a boy more disinterested in my fiancee than he is… So what's going on?" Bill asked
"Okay okay… we've been seeing each other… for a while…" Hermione whispered
"Do Harry and Ron know?" Bill asked
"Yes…"
"Well I'll be…" Bill said surprised
"I've met the Malfoy's a few times in France. Narcissa iz quite as you say Diztinguised… and Draco is a delightful dancer… Would you like a liaison…" Felur asked conspiratorially "Maybe in private?" She said wiggling her eyebrows…
"What.. no…" Hermione blushed even further
From a distance Draco watched her go red and smiled into the book he was holding. Seeing her was like being able to breath again.
Bill controlled his laughter. "Come on… Let go down here… he said taking her into and alley" Sure enough Draco followed. When they reach the front of an old but elegant shop, Bill said loudly "Fables and Tomes! This is it… Don't leave the store, we'll come get you in about an hour…" He said loudly and gave her wink as Hermione went in
As soon as Bill and Fleur apparated away, Malfoy all but ran towards the store. He saw Hermione taking the stairs to the first floor and followed. He walked parallel to her and they smiled at each other through the shelves until the came to a secluded corner. He took her in his arms and kissed her. He wrapped her arms around him pulling him closer. He had gotten taller again she thought as he dipped her to pull their bodies flush against each other. When they finally broke apart for air they both said together "I love you…." and then smiled. Hermione hugged him and Draco felt lighter than he had in months. They stood like that for a few minutes just hoping time would freeze. He kissed her on her forehead and pulled up the sleeve of her blouse to reveal the scar that read MUDBLOOD
"Does you arm still hurt?"
"Does your's?" Hermione asked pushing up his one sleeve to reveal the dark mark
He pulled his hand away and pulled his sleeve down turning away ashamed "Draco…" she said putting a hand on his cheek making him face her "Look at me…"
"I'm sorry…" He said "This… I'm…" he was looking for the right words when she pulled the sleeve back and kissed his mark
"Brave… You're brave is what you are… nothing else…" Draco teared up with the stress he didn't know he had been holding in
He kissed her again and held her like his life depended on it.
Bill and Fleur found them and hour later sitting on the floor. His arms wrapped around her as she rested against his chest talking about everything and nothing at the same time.
Fleur smiled as she peeked through the bookshelf again "Let's give them a couple more minutes…" Bill whispered into her ear. Fleur turned around and kissed him whispering "I'm so glad that you, mon amour, are more French than English…."
—
It was time for a new year at Hogwarts. All the teachers had a lot to do but the day before the arrival of the students found Snape and Minerva having tea together in Minerva's office
"Draco and Mr. Zabini's have received their mission…" Snape said
"I can't imagine Narcissa is too pleased…" Minerva said
"Enraged doesn't begin to cover it…."
"The order could help… "
"Draco won't go without his parents…"
"His mission is Harry I presume?"
"Actually it's Dumbledore…."
"Tom is getting a little ambitious, isn't he?"
"He's hoping Draco will fail, he's angry with Lucius but the Malfoy & Black vaults are what's paying for everything else… He needs a good enough reason to…"
"I see… I don't suppose you know any details…"
"Not all. Not yet… All I know is that it involves the room of requirement….Lucius has a 'friend' who is willing to help… Narcissa will find a way to fill me in once the plan is concrete…"
"Is this 'friend' someone we can trust?"
"I don't know… We'll just have to play it by ear…"
"By the way, I was speaking to Dumbledore, and I realised that when Tom visited all our offices were on the 7th floor corridor…"
"And you think he might have made a stop on the way to meeting Dumbledore?" Snape said
"I also think that the way to reach out to young Mr. Malfoy is through Ms. Granger…" Minerva said evenly
"You could ask her to look in the Room of Requirement on the 7th floor corridor for a possible relic… " Snape said slyly
"Try a scone Severus, Poppy made them just yesterday…" Minerva said with gleaming eyes
"Are you sure you belong in Gryffindor Minerva?" Severus said taking a scone
—
It was the afternoon of September 1st. The order had seen off the kids in the morning, Molly had made lunch for everyone and by the time the key members from the ministry arrived it was already 2pm.
"Finally Kingsely… Severus and I have to get back before the feast you know…" Minerva snapped as they all settled down
"I'd like to start…" Lupin said "I have made contact with a pack in Albania, I will be leaving tonight… Hopefully in the next two months I should have something to positive to report… "
Tonks was sitting quietly in the side not even looking up as he spoke.
"No… Remus… you will not be doing that…" Minerva said
"No?" Molly asked "No?! What do you mean no? Minerva it gives us no joy to ask this of Lupin but we discussed! he chose!"
"It won't be necessary…" Snape said
"Why? Cause your real boss has given a free pass for an all you can eat muggles buffet?" Sirius snapped
"Enough! We have to stop fighting amongst ourselves…" Kingsley said standing up and giving everyone a look that silenced the room "Minerva you were saying…"
"Thank you Kinglsey… Severus and I have something to report… A little side project we wanted to keep to ourselves until we made a little headway…" Minerva said "We've been working with Narcissa Malfoy on the horcruxes…"
There was a series of gasps around the room as everyone was left stunned…
"And we've already destroyed 3 of them…" Snape said with the tiniest hint of smugness as Sirius and Lupin just sat down slowly
—-
Harry, Luna and Neville were sitting together in a single compartment as the train chugged along. Draco had passed by with Blaise and the two of them had shared a look with Harry and Luna. Neville had been bored and looking out of the train to care.
"Do you think you'll be doing DA classes again this year Harry?" Neville asked
"Err… I don't know…" Harry said truthfully
"Well, I think you should, or at least host it like a study group for kids across houses… I learnt a lot last year… Don't think I'd have gotten good grades in my OWLs if it wasn't for you and 'mione…" He said
"Glad I could help Neville, but I didn't think you'd be taking DADA this year?" Harry asked
"Oh I'm not… Even though I got an E, I'm happier in the greenhouse, I'm just sad I don't get to take potions either cause of the E… I needed it if I wanted to pursue a career in Herbology research, even if it meant I'd have to put up with Snape…" He shuddered a little
"Oh…" Was all Harry could manage
"I don't think taking Potions will be a problem for you this year…" Luna said dreamily
"Why?" Harry and Neville asked
"I was reading my tea leaves and I divined it… It was my summer project for Divination, to figure out which subjects I should take…" She said and went back to her magazine that was still upside down
Harry and Neville had identical confused expressions on their faces
A moment later Ron and Hermione joined them in the compartment.
Ron flopped next to Harry and sunk low in his seat whining "The head boy's speech just wouldn't end… Gods…"
"It was really not that bad…" Hermione said
"For once you weren't even paying attention…" Ron teased and Hermione blushed and widened her eyes in warning…
There was a knock and door slid open to a breathless third-year girl. 'I'm supposed to deliver these to Neville Longbottom and Harry P-Potter,' she faltered, as her eyes met Harry's and she turned scarlet. She was holding out two scrolls of parchment tied with violet ribbon.
—
The meeting of the Slug club was weird and confusing for Harry, Blaise, Neville, McLaggen, Belby, Malfoy and Ginny. Everyone here seemed to have been invited because they were connected to somebody well-known or influential – everyone except Ginny, who had been invited because of a particularly marvellous bat-bogey hex that Slughorn had seen her cast. There was a lot of questions and conversations and everyone was just as confused to be there as Harry was.
Ron in the meantime was sulking about not being invited, Hermione ignored him in favour of a puzzles with Luna in the Quibbler.
The sun began to set by the time Harry and Neville made it back. Once they had all changed into their robes, Ron asked "So what was it like…"
"Awkward…" Neville said and harry nodded
"Who else was there?" He continued
"Malfoy, Zabini, McLaggen, Belby and Ginny…" Harry supplied
"Ginny? Why was ginny there?" Ron asked
"Cause Slughorn saw her cast a Bat Bogey hex on someone… believe me, you didn't miss much Ron… it was boring as hell…" Harry said as the train came to a halt
A very cheerful Tonks greeted Harry and the gang as they got off at Hogsmead station and headed towards the carriages.
"Tonks!" Hermione greeted, they had gotten close since Hermione had just listened to Tonks as she spoke about Lupin. Tonks had been in and out of house, but Hermione had not seen her smiling ear to ear since that day "You're here? Why? Is everything… okay?" Hermione asked
"I'm here from the ministry, additional protective detail. We have about 6 Aurors stationed in Hogsmead, I figured I'd come say hello to you lot!" She said greeting everyone
After a few minutes of chit chat and promises of sending packages from Honeydukes, they headed in but Hermione pulled Tonks aside "I'm so glad that you're back to normal, pink hair and all, but are you sure you're okay?" She whispered
Tonks smiled from ear to ear and said "He's not going! McGonagall and Snape, they figured something out and now he's not going…"
"That's! Thats amazing!" Hermione said "What did they figure out?" She asked
"I'm sorry, I can't say, but I'm sure McGonagall or Snape will speak to you and the boys…" Tonks said leading her back towards the carriages only one or two were left "Hey 'mione, I know you never told me anything, but Bill might have mentioned it… Us younger members have our own little group so… The point is…if you like my cousin, I'm all for it… if anything, you'll be saving him from himself…" She smiled
"What?" Hermione said confused
"It's the black gene, we tend to be hard headed at times…" She winked and apparated away with a pop leaving Hermione to figure out the meaning of her words as she stepped into a carriage. The one right in front of her had Draco and Blaise and a bunch of other Slytherins. Like a bulb coming on, Hermione's eyes went wide… "Oh gawd!" She moaned hiding her face in her hands "Bill Wesley I'm going to kill you…" She said to no one in particular
—
The sorting was short, the feast was delicious but the announcement of Slughorn taking over potions and Snape teaching DADA left the entire school stunned. The next morning, while handing out their schedules McGonagall urged that Harry and Ron speak to Slughorn and Harry received the Half Blood Prince's textbook while Draco and Hermione got paired upon again. Apparently something about not messing with Snape's recommendations of pairs for the NEWTs.
With Snape as a godfather, Draco had an early start at brewing (well before Hogwarts). He knew all of Snape's tips and tricks like squeezing the bean for more juice, the spell work behind the clockwise and counter-clock wise turns. Even without Snape's modified instructions, He and Harry were the only two to get the Draught of Living Death perfectly. The Felix Felicius was filled into two vials and handed to them both. Hermione was pissed. This was the first time, she hadn't aced a class and she was sulking.
As they got out, Draco gave her a meaningful look and she hung back and followed him into their secret classroom.
"What?" She asked
"You're upset…" Draco said holding back a smile
"No…" She said
"Yes you are… cause you didn't come first in class…" Draco said still trying not to laugh
"Oh shut it… If you want to gloat I'm leaving…" She said trying to walk away but he held her arm and spun her back into his arms.
"I missed your swottiness…." He said smiling and kissing her on the forehead
"I can't figure what I did wrong!" She whined stuffing her face into his chest…
"You followed the book…" Draco said holding her close
"That's what I do best…" came a muffled voice from his chest
"No… you read, you analyse, you research, you come to conclusions, you never take a single book on its word, you love perspectives. We're NEWT level students now, we can't just follow instructions, we need to use our instincts to brew…" Draco said gently
"What did I do wrong…" She asked again looking up at him
"If I tell you, you won't learn… But!" He said looking at her expression turning sour "Since I am an amazing boyfriend, I'll answer all your questions with a Yes or a No later in the library… Think of it like a puzzle for you to figure out what you did wrong…" Draco said
Hermione looked at him with narrowed eyes and finally said "Fine…"
"Now, can I get my first day of school kiss or did Slughorn ruin that for me too?" He asked
"I don't like him either…" Hermione said wrapping her hands around Draco's neck and getting on her tippy toes to kiss him
—
The floo roared to life and Narcissa Malfoy arrived in the manor in Germany. She strode into the east wing and knocked once before entering the study
"Lady Malfoy…" Grindelwald said with a smile "…To what do I owe the pleasure?"
"Do you know of anyone named Marvolo?" Narcissa asked sitting down
"Well… Let's just say it's a name I haven't heard in ages…." He said leaning back and lacing his fingers together in an almost Dumbledore like fashion "Why?"
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